During the ongoing 46th session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Interactive Dialogue on the Special Rapporteur’s report on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar and General Debate on the Secretary-General’s Oral Update on the Involvement of the United Nations in Myanmar were held on 11 and 12 March 2021 respectively. Permanent Secretary U Chan Aye and Deputy Director-General U Kyaw Thu Nyein from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the discussions through pre-recorded videos. Officials concerned from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to Geneva also attended the said meeting virtually.
At the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that Myanmar has consistently opposed country-specific mandates which run contrary to the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity and non-politicization in addressing human rights issues of the concerned country. However, he mentioned that the successive Governments have cooperated with the country-specific Special Rapporteurs and also accepted almost of all of their proposed country visits. Furthermore, he highlighted that despite fullest cooperation extended by Myanmar, the Special Rapporteur Ms Yanghee Lee failed to comply with the code of conduct and thus, the previous Government decided not to cooperate with her.
The Permanent Secretary also explained the assumption of the State responsibility by the Tatmadaw on 1 February 2021 in accordance with the State Constitution (2008), the policies of the State Administration Council and five future programmes to be implemented during the period of State of Emergency. He further stressed the State Administration Council’s commitment to consolidate the genuine, disciplined multiparty democratic system that suits the prevailing situation of the country as aspired to by the people of Myanmar. Additionally, he reaffirmed that Myanmar will constructively cooperate and engage with the relevant UN mechanisms in line with the existing laws, its national priorities and needs. He underscored that understanding and constructive engagement from the international community will highly be appreciated and supportive to the Myanmar’s effort to develop democratic transition process in an orderly manner.
During the General Debate on the Secretary-General’s Oral Update on the Involvement of the United Nations in Myanmar, the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted that cooperation with the United Nations is the cornerstone of Myanmar’s foreign policy and thus will continue to extend cooperation with the relevant United Nations agencies including Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team. He underlined the main role of United Nations Country Team as it has to take actions for effective integration and to assist the development of the host country in accordance with the objectives and priorities of the host country at its request. He underscored Myanmar’s belief on building and strengthening of mutual trust between host country and the United Nations agencies through coordination and cooperation manners. —MNA
